Uvodnik: 20 Let V Zavezništvu

Editorial: 20 Years in the Alliance

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The potential weaponization of Slavdom is a poorly researched topic in the literature on hybrid warfare, despite the Slavic dimension of NATO after several rounds of enlargement. Part of the reason is the traditionally reserved attitude of Russian authorities to the Slavic idea, which runs counter to the idealized supranational character of Russia and can incite domestic ethnic populism. Even though Moscow has not used this instrument so far, the historical record shows that it could do so at a later stage if its very existence is at stake. The instrumentalization of Slavic identity therefore requires attention, not only as an impending threat, but also as a potential catalyst for change on the Russian side.
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Putin’s Dilemma: Russia and the Slavic Dimension of NATO Enlargement

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This article takes an in-depth look at the Atlantic Alliance as it is approaching its 75th anniversary. It analyses the prevalent strategic environment in which NATO operates, with its multiple risks and rivalries; and addresses the main elements on its agenda as it manages the numerous challenges to Euro-Atlantic security and defence of today and tomorrow. To this end, it offers insights into NATO’s main efforts in such areas as deterrence and defence, Ukraine, partnership, enlargement, transatlantic relations, resilience, upholding and protecting the international rules-based order, emerging and disruptive technologies, and climate change and security. .
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NATO@75 – The Future of the Atlantic Alliance in Tumultuous Times

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Smart states, through alliances, synergistically enhance the capacity, readiness, responsiveness, resilience, sustainability and interoperability of their instruments of national power. NATO is constantly continually responding in a multidimensional way to changing security threats and operational circumstances, including by updating and upgrading concepts, plans and measures. The Alliance is also an opportunity for self-reflection; not to judge in retrospect, but to prevent mistakes in the future. We need to discuss honestly why we might be elsewhere, as had been desired and planned, but at the same time, despite our small size, we could be more courageous in pursuing different and original solutions.
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20 Years of the Republic of Slovenia in NATO: Some Impressions about a Tiny Part and the Whole

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This paper argues that a prestige-humiliation dynamic is a systems-level force that shapes state behavior. Connecting psychological factors to structural realism, we observe the following: the more powerful a state becomes, the more it could seek to overturn past humiliation through aggressive prestige-seeking acts. This is done to reassert its power and status to erase past humiliation and achieve prestige even at the expense of others. Three historical examples will be discussed: Nazi Germany’s erasure of the Treaty of Versailles, China’s Century of Humiliation, and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s expansion into Eastern Europe against Russia. The paper will then define face-saving behavior, allowing a competitor to preserve prestige and avoid humiliation as a way to deescalate tension.
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Prestige, Humiliation And Saving Face: National Identity and Great Power Politics

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A qualitative assessment of the conventional military balance between NATO and Russia may form a basis of any potential conventional arms control (CAC) agreement in Europe. Article discusses methods to assess force capability and military balances, and then suggests updates to the methods based on insights from recent conflicts, military capability trends and developments. The article offers a weighted static force analysis model to assess military balances, that can be used for CAC agreements, called the Quantitative Approach to Conventional Arms Control (QuACAC). This approach may help narrow areas of disagreement between negotiating parties, and provide a basis for CAC agreement adaptation.
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Military Balancing for Future Conventional Arms Control Agreements in Europe

AHEAD OF PRINT

Volume 26 (2024): Issue 1 (March 2024)

Volume 25 (2023): Issue 3-4 (December 2023)

Volume 25 (2023): Issue 2 (June 2023)

Volume 25 (2023): Issue 1 (May 2023)

Volume 24 (2022): Issue 4 (October 2022)

Volume 24 (2022): Issue 3 (September 2022)

Volume 24 (2022): Issue 2 (June 2022)

Volume 24 (2022): Issue 1 (May 2022)

CONTEMPORARY MILITARY CHALLENGES

 Printed ISSN: 2232-2825, Online ISSN: 2463-9575   The mission of the Contemporary Military Challenges (CMC) publication is to develop critical, scientific and professional thought in the fields of security, defence and military in close cooperation with the contemporary critical society at national and especially international level. Contemporary security threats require innovative, environmentally friendly, sustainable and long-term ideas that will first protect and then enable the further development of democratic political systems and the protection of human rights and freedoms, ensure gender equality, and secure future for younger generations. In order to achieve these objectives, bearing in mind that knowledge and progress are inextricably linked, CMC publishes interdisciplinary scientific and professional research papers, debates as well as technical and social science analyses concerning global security challenges, crisis management, civil-military relations, international security and defence, and the functioning and development of the armed forces. The development of (national) security systems is instrumental since each individual, state and society contributes to the international security. Individuals – with their knowledge, equipment, technology, weapons and role in the society – influence the security and future of themselves, their natural and national environment, and the energy that they use at home and in the wider social context.   History   The journal was first published in 1999 as Bilten Slovenske vojske (Bulletin of the Slovenian Armed Forces) by the General Staff of the Slovenian Armed Forces. In 2011, the journal was renamed to Sodobni vojaški izzivi (Contemporary Military Challenges) to better reflect the much wider aspect of the journal.   What do we publish?   We publish papers which have not been previously published or submitted to another magazine for publication. The author is held liable for copyright infringement. If the paper has already been printed elsewhere, submitted for publication, or presented at an expert conference, the author must notify the editor, obtain the publisher’s consent (if necessary) and indicate the reasons for republishing.   Copies of Contemporary Military Challenges published in the period between 2008 and 2022 are availablehere.   Publishing an article is free of charge.   Archiving   Sciendo archives the contents of this journal in Portico - digital long-term preservation service of scholarly books, journals and collections.   Plagiarism Policy   The editorial board is participating in a growing community of Similarity Check System's users in order to ensure that the content published is original and trustworthy. Similarity Check is a medium that allows for comprehensive manuscripts screening, aimed to eliminate plagiarism and provide a high standard and quality peer-review process. 